Attachable tray for armchairs, bridge tables, and the like



Aug. 19, 1947. P, HELLER 2,426,097

ATTACHABLE TRAY FOR ARMCHAIRS, BRIDGE TABLES, AND THE LIKE Filed NOV. 20, 1944 INVENTOR.

PAM/(p jY/i)" H 441mm Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED STATES ?ATENT GFFICE ATTACHABLE TRAY FOR ARMCHAIRS, BRIDGE TABLES, AND THE LIKE 1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to improvements in combination chair and table sets for use in any place, particularly where space is limited, for instance in schools, apartments or the like.

The principal object of my invention is to provide simple, inexpensive means for attaching a tray or a small table to an arm chair or to the arm piece of a bench or the like;

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a devic of the character described which can be used as a handy, detachable extension for a table, particularly for a bridge table, and which does not require any alteration of the table, chair or bench in connection with which it is used, yet which can be firmly connected thereto in a very simple manner;

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described which is longitudinally and laterally adjustable so that one and the same device can be attached to chairs, tables, and benches and the like of various size, shape and construction;

Yet still another object of the present inven tion resides in the provision of a means for supporting the device of the character described from the ground or from the armpiece of a chair or bench or from both, and the attaching of which to a piece of furniture can be done within a very short period of time and without the use of any tools as well as without the application of any considerable amount of skill;

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described whose attaching to a piece of furniture does not result in any damage to the piece of furniture, nor will it leave any scratches or traces upon finished or painted or upholstered parts of furniture after it has been detached therefrom;

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described Which can be made of metal, wood, plastic material or the like, and which consists of only few simple and inexpensive parts but which is sturdy and well adapted to withstand th rough usage to which such devices are frequently subjected.

Further objects of the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation or novel combination or parts present in the embodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanying drawing,

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention, as it appears in connection with an easy chair;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same; and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a detail drawn on an enlarged scale, on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawingthe numeral i5 denotes a panel or tray, which is preferably rectangular, and from whose lower side a longitudinally adjustable supporting stand Iii as Well as one or more brackets or fixed jaws iii are perpendicularly extended. The supporting stand ll] consists preferably of a tubular member H in whose bore l2 a rod is is shiftable, and which has at its lower end a base l3 adapted to maintain it safely in an upright position on the floor.

I prefer to use two brackets or jaws l6, as in the instance shown, and to secure them in spaced relation to each other to the lower side of the panel l5 near one of its longer edges. The rod it, which is parallel to the brackets I6, is preferably attached to the u'nderface of panel l5 near that longitudinal edge which is opposite to that at which the brackets l6 are disposed, and rod l4 is so located that it' is equally spaced apart from each bracket l6. In this way it will be possible to place the panel l5 upon the corner portion of a table top so that two adjoining table top edges are adjacent to the brackets l6 and that panel 15 is disposed to the edges of the table top at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees. The panel is thus placed upon a corner portion of a bridge table, for instance, is partially supported by the table and partially by its supporting stand 59. A clamp (not shown) can be used in addition for securing panel 15 to the table top in a Well known manner.

In order to prevent any damage of the surface of a piece of furniture to which the panel I5 is attached, I prefer to provide the underface of panel l5 as well as the inner surface of the brackets It with a lining l! of rubber or of any other suitable soft material, which can be pasted upon said underface of panel [5 and secured to the brackets it; by means of rivets l8 (Fig. 2) or the like.

In Figure 1, the device is shown in connection with an easy chair which is indicated in dashand-dotted lines. If the device is used in connection with any type of arm chair or easy chair or with a bench having arm pieces, the panel I5 is placed upon an arm piece as shown, so that the brackets it rest against the inner side of the arm piece and that the panel I5 is partially supported by said arm piece and partially by the adjustable supporting stand ID. If a lateral hold of panel I5 is desired, the threaded spindle l8 can be used. Spindle I8 is extended through a threaded aperture in an eye 2| at the upper portion of rod l4, and has at its outer end a handle l9 and at its inner end a jaw or cap 22. The movable jaw or cap 22 is preferably provided with an internally threaded bore, which normally engages the inner end of spindle I8, and its outer surface is provided with a lining v20 of rubber or of any other suitable soft material. The cap 22 can be unscrewed from spindle l8, so that spindle l8 can be screwed out of eye 2| entirely if the device is being used on a tabl o the like, where a lateral hold by spindle I8 is not necessary.

A set screw 23 is provided on the upper portion of the tubular member ll so that rod M can be retained in the proper position after adjustment.

It can be seen that there has been provided in accordance with this invention an attachable tray for use on armchairs and like furniture comprising a panel having opposite edges, two downwardly extending fixed jaws arranged in spaced relation to each other at one of said edges, a rod support adjustable in length and extending downwardly from adjacent the other of said edges for contact with the floor on which said furniture rests, said rod support being disposed substantially centrally of said other edge and intermediate said fixed jaws, and a member terminating into a jaw, said member being carried by said rod support and extending perpendicularly to the plane in which said fixed jaws are positioned, said member bein movable relatively to said support and in the direction toward said fixed jaws, whereby a clamping action between said fixed jaws and said jaw of said movable member may be obtained to secure said panel in position on said furniture.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of th invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is:

An attachable tray for us on armchairs and like furniture comprising a panel having opposite edges, two downwardly extending fixed jaws arranged in spaced relation to each other at one of said edges, a rod support adjustable in length and extending downwardly from adjacent the other of said edges for contact with the floor on which said furniture rests, said rod support being disposed substantially centrally of said other edge and intermediate said fixed jaws, and a member terminating in a jaw, said member being carried 'by said rod support and extending perpendicularly to the plane in which said fixed jaws are positioned, said member being movable relatively to said support and in the direction toward said fixed jaws, whereby a clamping action between said fixed jaws and said jaw of said movable member may be obtained to secure said panel in position on said furniture.-

PHILLIP HELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,034,835 Rubino Mar. 24, 1936 1,046,604 Kensit Dec. 10, 1912 2,148,307 Scott Feb. 21, 1939 1,623,196 Neahr Apr. 5, 1927 838,421 Kerstetter Dec. 11, 1906 1,351,548 Baskin Aug. 31, 1920 1,247,112 Holmbert et a1. Nov. 20, 1917 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 322,650 Great Britain Dec. 12, 1929 

